Tape caddy

ABSTRACT

A tape holding device that holds and protects a microcassette. The tape holding device includes a pair of opposing rails, a stop tab and a retention button for securing the microcassette to the device. The device further includes a pair of upper holes through which a clip can be inserted to secure the tape holding device to a file folder. The tape holding device also includes side holes that allow the device to be inserted onto two rings of a three-ring binder. The tape holding device further includes a groove that allows the device to be flexed up and provides a recess for accepting a binder clip. The tape holding device also includes retention flights so that allow a rubber band to secure the device to a file folder. The tape holding device further includes a message area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a device for holding a tape and,more particularly, to a single piece plastic molded device forprotecting and holding a microcassette, where the device includes holesfor mounting the device to a file folder or binder.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Certain professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, etc., sometimes use atape recorder, such as the model BM-575 available from Sony, forrecording various documents, letters, thoughts, information, data, etc.onto a microcassette. The recorded information on the microcassette canthen be transcribed into text or can be listened to so the informationthereon can be reviewed. Because microcassettes are very small, about 1½inches by 1 inch, they sometimes get lost or separated from the filethat they are associated with. Thus, the information, data, etc.,recorded thereon is also lost possibly affecting the productivity of theprofessional. Further, the microcassette is somewhat fragile, and thus,can be easily damaged, which could also cause the information thereon tobe lost. Also, it is inconvenient to try and keep the microcassette withthe file. Sometimes the professional will use a rubber band to bind themicrocassette to the file until it is transcribed. In some cases, themicrocassette may become a permanent part of the record in the file.

It would be desirable to provide a tape holder that protected themicrocassette and reliably secured it to the file that it is associatedwith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a tapeholding device is disclosed that holds and protects a microcassette. Thetape holding device includes a pair of opposing rails, a stop tab and aretention button for securing the microcassette to the device. Thedevice further includes a pair of upper holes through which a clip canbe inserted to secure the tape holding device to a file folder. The tapeholding device also includes side holes that allow the device to beinserted onto two rings of a three-ring binder. The tape holding devicefurther includes a groove that allows the device to be flexed up when itis clipped to the file folder, and provides a recess for accepting abinder clip. The tape holding device also includes at least oneretention flight positioned adjacent to one of the rails so that arubber band can be placed between the retention flight and the rail tosecure the device to a file folder. The tape holding device furtherincludes a message area that accepts a dry erase marker or a sticky noteso that the microcassette can be identified.

Additional advantages and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape holding device, according to anembodiment of the present invention, attached to a file folder;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tape holding device shown in FIG. 1removed from the file folder;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tape holding device shown inFIG. 2 through line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tape holding device shown inFIG. 2 through line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the tape holding device attached to the filefolder and showing a hinge of the device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tape holding device attached to afile folder by a binder clip;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tape holding device attached to aclipboard; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tape holding device attached to afile folder by a rubber band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion of the embodiments of the invention directed toa tape holding device for holding and protecting a microcassette ismerely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit theinvention or its applications or uses.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape holding device 10, according tothe invention, for holding and protecting a microcassette 12, where thedevice 10 is shown attached to a file folder 14. FIG. 2 is a front view,FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through line 3-3 and FIG. 4 is across-sectional view through line 4-4 of the device 10 separated fromthe file folder 14. The tape holding device 10 is a single piece membermolded of a suitable plastic for the purposes described herein, such aspolypropylene. As will be described in detail below, the device 10includes a base plate 16 to which are formed various elements of thedevice 10.

The tape holding device 10 includes a tape holding area 18 includingopposing L-shaped side rails 20 and 22, a stop tab 24 and a flexiblerelease/retention button 26. The button 26 extends above the base plate16 when it is in it's relaxed position. To insert the microcassette 12into the tape holding area 18, the button 26 is pressed down and themicrocassette 12 is slid over the button 26 between the rails 20 and 22and positioned against the stop tab 24, as shown in phantom in FIG. 2.In this position, the microcassette 12 is held between a back portion 30and top flanges 32 and 34 of the side rails 20 and 22, respectively. Aridge 36 on the underside of the flange 32 and a ridge 38 on theunderside of the flange 34 maintain the microcassette 12 against theback portion 30. One end of the microcassette 12 is positioned againstthe stop tab 24 and an opposite end of the microcassette 12 ispositioned against an edge of the raised button 26. When themicrocassette 12 is released from the holding area 18, the button 26 ispressed down through a cut out area 42 in the back plate 16 so that themicrocassette 12 can be slid over the button 26 to be removed from thedevice 10.

The tape holding device 10 also includes associated upper holes 48 and50 formed at a top portion 52 of the device 10 that are spaced apartfrom each other the distance that accommodates papers cut by aconventional two-hole punch. A clip 54, such as an Acco clip, mounted toand holding papers 58 in the file folder 14 can be inserted through theholes 48 and 50 and bent down in a conventional manner to attach thedevice 10 to the file folder 14, as shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, alower binder hole 56 is formed through the back plate 16 at a sideportion of the device 10 a distance from the top hole 48 to accommodatetwo rings of a three-ring binder (not shown). Therefore, the tapeholding device 10 can be secured to the three-ring binder.

A recess or channel 60 extends across the base plate 16 proximate thetop portion 52 below the holes 48 and 50 and defines a hinge so that thebase plate 16 can be raised off of the papers 58 mounted in the filefolder 14 so that the papers 58 below the tape holding device 10 can beviewed without removing the device 10 from the file folder 14. Operationof the hinge is shown in FIG. 5.

The channel 60 also provides a groove so that the tape holding device 10can be reliably mounted to a file folder 74, or other support structure,by a binder clip 70, as shown in FIG. 6. The top portion 52 includes aU-shaped edge 72 so that a middle portion of the top portion 52 is closeenough to the channel 60 to accommodate the smallest binder clip.

The channel 60 also provides a groove to accommodate a clip 76 of aclipboard 78 to secure the tape holding device 10 to the clipboard 78,as shown in FIG. 7.

The tape holding device 10 also includes two retention flights 62 and 64positioned adjacent to the rail 22, as shown. The area between the rail22 and the retention flights 62 and 64 provides a location that allows arubber band 80 to reliably hold the tape holding device 10 to a filefolder or stack of papers 82, as shown in FIG. 8.

The tape holding device 10 also includes a message area 66 provided at alower portion of the base plate 16. The message area 66 provides a flatsurface that a sticky note can be attached to so that a description ofthe contents of the microcassette 12 can be written thereon. Also, theplastic material of the device 10 allows a dry erase marker to bewritten directly on the message area 66 for the same purpose.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art willreadily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanyingdrawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

1. A tape holding device for holding a tape, said device comprising: abase plate; and a tape holding portion provided on the base plate, saidtape holding portion including opposing L-shaped rails, a stop tab and aflexible button, said tape being held in the tape holding portion by theopposing side rails, the stop tab and the button so that the tape can beremoved from the tape holding portion by pressing the button and slidingthe tape between the rails and over the button.
 2. The tape holdingdevice according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of upper holesformed in the base plate a predetermined distance apart for accepting aclipping device for securing the tape holding device to a file folder.3. The tape holding device according to claim 1 further comprising achannel formed in the base plate between the upper holes and the tapeholding portion, said channel defining a hinge for allowing the baseplate to be flexed on the channel.
 4. The tape holding device accordingto claim 1 further comprising a lower hole formed in the base plate andbeing spaced a predetermined distance from one of the upper holes foraccepting two rings of a three-ring binder.
 5. The tape holding deviceaccording to claim 1 further comprising a flat message area on the baseplate.
 6. The tape holding device according to claim 1 furthercomprising at least one retention flight extending from the base plateproximate to one of the rails.
 7. The tape holding device according toclaim 6 wherein the at least one retention flight is a pair of retentionflights.
 8. The tape holding device according to claim 1 wherein thetape holding portion holds a microcassefte.
 9. The tape holding deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the tape holding device is a single pieceplastic molded member.
 10. A tape holding device for holding a tape,said device comprising: a base plate; a tape holding portion provided onthe base plate for holding the tape; a pair of upper holes formed in thebase plate a predetermined distance apart for accepting a clippingdevice for securing the tape holding device to a file folder; and achannel formed in the base plate, said channel defining a hinge forallowing the base plate to be flexed on the channel.
 11. The tapeholding device according to claim 10 further comprising a lower holeformed in the base plate and being spaced a predetermined distance fromone of the upper holes for accepting two rings of a three-ring binder.12. The tape holding device according to claim 10 further comprising aflat message area on the base plate.
 13. The tape holding deviceaccording to claim 10 further comprising at least one retention flightextending from the base plate proximate to one of the rails.
 14. Thetape holding device according to claim 13 wherein the at least oneretention flight is a pair of retention flights.
 15. The tape holdingdevice according to claim 10 wherein the tape holding portion holds amicrocassette.
 16. The tape holding device according to claim 10 whereinthe tape holding device is a single piece plastic molded member.
 17. Atape holding device for holding a tape, said device comprising: a baseplate; a tape holding portion provided on the base plate, said tapeholding portion including opposing L-shaped rails, a stop tab and aflexible button, said tape being held in the tape holding portion by theopposing side rails, stop tab and the buttons so that the tape can beremoved from the tape holding portion by pressing the button and slidingthe tape between the rails and over the button; a pair of upper holesformed in the base plate a predetermined distance apart for accepting aclipping device for securing the tape holding device to a file folder; achannel formed in the base plate between the upper holes and the tapeholding area, said channel defining a hinge for allowing the base plateto be flexed on the channel; a lower hole formed in the base plate andbeing spaced a predetermined distance from one of the upper holes foraccepting two rings of a three-ring binder; at least one retentionflight extending from the base plate proximate to one of the rails; anda flat message area on the base plate.
 18. The tape holding deviceaccording to claim 17 wherein the at least one retention flight is apair of retention flights.
 19. The tape holding device according toclaim 17 wherein the tape holding portion holds a microcassette.
 20. Thetape holding device according to claim 17 wherein the tape holdingdevice is a single piece plastic molded member.